Ex-Hollywood Mayor Mara Giulianti to pay $100 ethics fine

October 23, 2008|Posted by Anthony Man at 7:02 AM

The Florida Ethics Commission announced Wednesday it found probable cause to believe former Hollywood Mayor Mara Giulianti violated the state's gift law by failing to timely report gifts of two football tickets valued at more than $100.

The group investigated five complaints filed by residents, either dealing with the free football tickets she received in 2005 or a trip paid for by a labor union in 2004. The commission dismissed the complaints involving the labor union's gift.

More from staff writers Ihosvani Rodriguez and Megan O'Matz:

Giulianti said Wednesday she obtained the two FedEx Orange Bowl tickets, worth $250 apiece, from the Orange Bowl Committee in 2005.The city paid about $60,000 to sponsor the game that year, and Guilianti said she thought the tickets were part of a sponsorship package. Giulianti said she could have fought the commission over the findings, but opted to pay a $100 fine instead. "I think they were wrong, but we've come to a fair solution," she said. "I would've had to fly to Tallahassee, spend a night in a hotel there, and it would've cost me a fortune to fight it."

State officials said Wednesday there have been settlement talks, but nothing has been put in writing.

The commission dismissed complaints Giulianti accepted a gift from a federal political action committee, or PAC.

The Sun Sentinel reported in August 2007 that Giulianti accepted a trip from a PAC set up by the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Pipe Fitting Industry. The union's pension fund built and owns the luxury Westin Diplomat Resort on Hollywood's beach.

Giulianti accepted $2,500 from the plumbers' union to attend the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston, the Sun Sentinel reported. The mayor was a delegate to the convention that nominated U.S. Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts for president.

Florida law forbids public officials from accepting gifts over $100 from PACs. But the ethics investigation indicated the trip was related to a national campaign, and not to political activities within the state.

The report states there was no evidence the union tried to influence Giulianti's decision-making during the 12 months before she received the money. Giulianti returned the money after the article was published.

Other complaints dismissed The Florida Ethics Commission dismissed complaints that Giulianti accepted a $2,500 gift from a federal political action committee to attend the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston. The mayor was a delegate to the convention.